Family Photo

Church Today

On a recommendation from a friend and mostly becuase of the fantastic weather this weekend, we decided to go camping one last time before rainy cool weather. We had family church next to the lake this morning. I won't lie. The kids were exhausted after staying awake in the tent way too late, Mommy and Daddy didn't sleep well which probably made our tempers a little shorter than usual, all three boys were struggling to listen and obey which meant that our intentions of having family church seemed out of the question.

Elijah had gotten in major trouble; I admittedly almost totally lost it with him. Micah was nearly asleep eating lunch, and Isaiah was crying over every little thing, but our window of opportunity surfaced during picnic lunch, and Eric seized the moment. He told the story of Jesus calling the fishermen to him (since we'd been fishing), teaching them to fish anew and giving them a new purpose in life, to be fishers of men. Eric asked the boys, "How can we become fishers of men?" The obvious answer came out first, "Tell people about Jesus." We said yes, but what else? Elijah said, "Show them." We asked, "How can we show people Jesus?" What followed was a great little conversation where each boy (maybe with the exception of a VERY tired Micah) thought of ways that they could SHOW the love of Jesus. We talked about showing love at school, at home, with our family and to others. When we talked about prayer requests, Elijah requested that we pray for a kid at his school that he says is a bully. I don't think it's any coincidence that after talking about showing love to people, the person Elijah requests to pray for is a bully. Kids get it! We didn't even talk about loving your enemies.

We all connected today- better than we have in weeks. Even though I was more angry at Elijah today for a few moments than I can remember being maybe ever... the reconciliation was sweet and because of it, our relationship is better. Before bed tonight, he hugged me tight. Really tight. It was a hug that said, "I know you were mad at me today. I'm sorry and I understand and I'm so glad that you forgive me and I'll do better." I hugged him back- tightly, and I know we are in a good place.

Anyway, Cave Run Lake is beautiful and the place we camped was great too.. secluded little campsites and helpful, kind staff members-highly recommend it. The place is called Zilpo Recreation Area in Daniel Boone National Forest.

Friends

Preheat the day to a perfect 78 degrees.

Combine 5 families for one evening

Add burgers, hashbrown casserole and fruit salad

Mix 7 happy children on a trampoline with

3 completely kissable babies.

Simmer in the sweet evening for 3 hours and add

the soft red rays of the setting sun.

Fold in layer upon layer of beautiful conversation late into the night,

Sprinkle stars on top and enjoy

the masterpiece

that is relationship.

Our Kenyan Friend

Father Paul had his last dinner with us Tuesday night. He brought some gifts from Kenya for all of us. His generosity and love for us has been a huge blessing. The skirt and beads I'm wearing were from him, Eric got a beaded belt and the boys all got keychains. Paul and his family are loving, generous people. We're glad to know him.

The Beauty of Woman

My husband gave me a gift yesterday- a day of spiritual retreat. It is a practice we've wanted to instill regularly for a long time. We'll take turns, him one month, me the next. So on my day (I only took a morning this month), I went to the Arboretum and spent some time listening and reading. I learned what a sycamore tree looks like, that sassafrass trees have random mitten shaped leaves, and I watched flowers literally turn their budded heads to face the warm sun from under the shade of a tree.

I really didn't know what to expect from this day, so I decided to expect nothing. In the car on the way out, I simply prayed, "Jesus, I just want to hang out with you today. What do you want to do? No agendas. No burning questions for you to answer for me. Just me and you, chillin with the trees and shrubs." He seemed fine with that.

So we walked for a while, around the paths, my Savior and I. I listened. I held my thoughts captive and wondered what my friend, my Lord might want to make of our time together.

I read some CS Lewis and ran across this section on beauty that blew me away. I can't do it justice, but I'll quote one short part. He writes:

"To desire the desiring of her own beauty is the vanity of Lillith, but to desire the enjoying of her own beauty is the obedience of Eve, and to both, it is in the lover that the beloved tastes her own delightfulness." Almost immediately an image of a calm, cool pool of water, completely still, surrounded by trees, came to mind along with the message, "This is you." This is the beauty that is me. It is Him in me- this calm stillness. This is His purpose for me. I am at my best when I am bringing peace. All of the hopes and dreams and joys of my life are connected to this still water in some way. I love to bring peace-

Peace to a college dorm full of girls struggling to find themselves

Peace to a Kenyan man far from home in the form of a meal

Peace to an insecure middle school child

Peace to a tired new mom or dad

Peace to my children after a long day at school

Peace to a missionary in Haiti who runs marathons to feed children

Peace to two little orphaned girls someday

Peace to friends and family who want a place to call home for a while

Peace to a Korean mom who wants to learn English

Peace to a new neighbor or to complete strangers.

I'm not flashy or wild. I'm not the surf crashing on a shore or a majestic Hawaiin waterfall. When I'm at my best, living into who I'm created to be, I'm that still pool that invites you to come, dip your toes, sit a while and feel the presence of my friend Jesus with me.

Brotherly Love

On Friday nights the boys look forward to switching beds. Its a tradition. They never forget. Last night Micah slept in the spare room, Elijah in Micah's bed and Isaiah in Elijah's bed. Isaiah was having a hard time staying in bed. After several warnings, I moved Isaiah back to his own bed. As I was leaving the room, Isaiah wimpering in the background, Elijah whispered to me, "Mommy, I'm really sad for Isaiah. I think I might cry." I said, "I know, I'm sad for him too, but he knew what would happen if he kept getting out of bed. He can try again next week." Elijah tearfully chokes out, "Next Friday is really kind of far away. Can I let Isaiah have my bed tomorrow night and I'll sleep in his?" Such a sympathetic little guy.

Preschool- Isaiah

Isaiah's first day was terrific as expected. He fell asleep on the bus on the way home. A friend from my school looked after my class so that I could come home and put the baby of the family on the bus with Eric. The highlights of school, according to Isaiah, are that he gets to eat pizza and chicken nuggets for lunch every day (2 days of school so far). He also loves the "Quiet Place" station in his classroom. It is a little tent with a sleeping bag and stuffed animals inside.

Gift

Me to Isaiah at bedtime tonight: "Good night sweet-pea."

Pause from Zay and a grin as he replies: "Good night mac and cheese."

He keeps a smile on our faces with his quick witty responses and reactions. I was reminded today from a sermon I listened to that every ounce of joy, grace, and love we experience is a gift. So, thank you Lord for the gift of Isaiah tonight.

He's holding up his favorite PJs in the picture- blue checked boxers.

Micah's First Day

No problem! Kindergarten is a walk in the park for this middle child. He shrugs it all off with ease. Even after 20 questions about what it was like, what he did, who he sat with, what he learned etc., almost every answer was something similar to, "Good. Just stuff." I haven't downloaded pictures yet so we'll post one with Isaiah's first day pics next week. Micah was excited to sit with our neighbor friend on his bus, and he didn't seem to have any bad experiences, so I guess that's a good first week.

Elijah's First Day

Elijah is officially a second grader. He had a great first day. He came home excited about compost, pumpkin seeds and Mr. Madill. We are all thanking the Lord for a science lesson on the first day (his favorite subject), a teacher that made him laugh, a friend (thanks Shawn) who sat with him on the bus, no homework, and no difficulties that we're aware of. Thank you friends and family for your prayers for him. He seemed calm and confident- miraculous indeed.

Micah's first day is tomorrow. We'll keep you posted.

My first day with students was today and it went well. I wish I could share details but alas confidentiality is an issue. I'll just share that I have 2 very easy classes, 1 moderately difficult class and 1 class that will require all of my patience and more toughness than I've been accustomed to showing over the past 2 years.

Off to day two tomorrow!

At the Heartbeat

I don't have any affiliation with this church, but Jeremiah posted this promo on his blog, and I had to respond. It makes my heart pitter pat. It brings a lump to my throat and makes me want to stand up and cheer, YES! They nailed it. This is at the heart of what I want in a church, in my church, in THE church. So many of us want this. Then the more rational me takes over. What are the implications? What sacred cows get tipped? Should we be concerned?

I want to say, Heck No! Go. do. be! But I do want to be prepared to avoid a pendulum swing that can, and often does swing off course in the opposite direction when momumental change takes place. And many people think we are on the cusp of monumental church change in our generation. So what prevents people (us) from being the church 7 days a week traditionally, and what does it look like when this "ideation" goes bad or good for that matter? I don't know. But its worth finding out.

Elijah's Prayer tonight

God thank you for daytime and dark

Thank you for old days and new days

Thank you for rainy days and sunny days

Thank you for birds that fly

Thank you for animals that I can pet

Thank you for stars and the moon

Thank you for my brothers

Thank you for the Bible

Amen.

A Prayer for Boys

My prayer for my boys today:

I thank my God every time I remember you, even when you're driving me crazy.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy (Lord help me) because of your partnership with the gospel from the first day until now. Your partnership with the gospel currently results from your connection to your family, but I pray that someday it will become your own.

I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. He will carry on the good work in you, not me.

I have you in my heart.

All of you share in God's grace with me. Thank you Lord!

And this is my prayer:

that your love may abound more and more

in knowledge and depth of insight,

so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be

pure

and blameless for the day of Christ,

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-

to the glory and praise of God.

On Stage

Our park has an unused loading dock next to the playground that the boys have claimed for a stage. Micah wanted to help be the "camera guy" instead of being in the band this time. Every rocker writes a song for his mom right?

Bike rides and play today

Elijah playing with John Wesley.
Feet in the fountain on campus.
Life size statue of John Wesley. Can you believe how short he was?
Relaxing by the fountain after our bike ride.

Rx for Mommy-crazies= Solitude

I read a little bit of Richard Foster's chapter on solitude the other day without any huge 'ah ha' moments. Then today, I was a little on edge for my own reasons, and it was my day to be home with the boys. Overall, we had a great day- played outside lots, didn't watch TV or play computer, no fights, no time-outs, but I was just grouchy most of the day. We were in the van on the way home from Lex and I finally had to say, "OK, Mommy will not be answering any more questions until we get home."

The previous 45 minutes had sounded something like:
E: "Mommy, when can I get my motorcycle driver's license."
Me: I don't know. When you're not living at home anymore.
E: But when am I allowed to...
I: (interrupting him) Um, Mommy?!? Where are we going?
E: Hey, Isaiah interrupted me.
Me: Yes, Isaiah, you interrupted. Elijah go ahead and finish.
E: Um, yeah so, I forget, but Mommy?...
Me: Yeah, ...
I: Mommy? Can we go to McDonalds
Me: No we're not going to McDonalds
E: Hey, Isaiah interrupted me again. You guys keep ignoring me.
M: Hey Mommy!
Me: Yes.
M: That was Toys R Us. Can we get a Nintendo DS?
Me: No
M: When can we get a DS? How much does it cost?
E: Mommy? How much money will you and Daddy give me to buy my first car?
Me: What?
I: Can I buy that car right there?
Me: (Silence- ignoring them)
I: (louder) Mommy! That red one right there beside us... look now... you're going to miss it... (crying now!!!) Mommy, you missed it. It was the car I really want!

So yeah, replay that for 45 mintues and I'd had enough. Our day continued much the same- we played on the trampoline, Eric got home, we ate dinner, and he took the boys outside to play for the last 45 mintues of the day. I did dishes and swept the floor... and I felt it- the beauty of solitude. The 45 minutes I spent cleaning the kitchen and sweeping the floor were my best moments all day. I prayed, hummed a tune, had a complete thought or two without interruption, I savored the laughter of children outside, I smelled dish soap, washed fresh garden veggies and marveled at the perfection of a red ripe tomato.

Foster writes, "These tiny snatches of time are often lost to us. What a pity! They can and should be redeemed. They are times for inner quiet, for reorienting our lives like a compass needle. They are little moments that help us to be genuinely present where we are." Capturing little moments of 'silence' helps us to be genuinely present. I can not imagine the crazy person I would be if these pockets of time didn't avail themselves regularly- with the help of Eric of course who knows better than anyone that without a few minutes to myself, you'll get nothing but sarcasm out of me. :)

Knock Knock Joke- Zay Zay

Knock Knock. from Erin Crisp on Vimeo.

Phoebe's Song

Phoebe's Song from Erin Crisp on Vimeo.

Elijah made up this song for Phoebe Saturday. She smiled and laughed and laughed the whole time he was singing to her. There were several more verses during the live performance.

School's not cool

We have made a new friend, Paul, from Kenya. He eats with us frequently and shares many stories of his country and home. He has already become such a blessing to our family- enlarging our hearts and opening our eyes to a world beyond our own trivial worries.

Last night he was sharing about school in Kenya. Students have to pay for uniforms, books and school fees to attend school. It is a great privilege to attend school. Children cry if they have to stay home from school for any reason and walk many miles sometimes to get an education.

I shared that overall, the perspective of US school children is disappointingly different. Most don't want to go to school. Teenagers work hard to skip school and many drop out as soon as they are old enough in favor of going their own way.

He was not surprised, just shook his head and said wisely, as he often seems to do, "They do not understand that 'I am because we are, and we are because I am. (from Desmund Tutu I think he said)'" He went on to explain that in Kenya, children know and understand that their entire existence is dependant on the "we" and the fate of the "we" is dependant on the responsibility (or lack thereof) of the individual. So if I am successful in school, I can help my whole family and whole community. If I squander my chances, I may indirectly or directly cause the death of my family members, friends and community because I become a burden to them, a mouth to feed that can not contribute as effectively as one who pursues his opportunities- whatever they may be- farming, education, etc.

So, short of exposing our children to the travesites of poverty and death, how do our children learn a sense of "we." How do they come to the important realization that their actions, even as young adolescents, will have far reaching effects for their children, their husbands and wives and even their grandchildren? From teaching this age for a few years, I would assert that they have little to NO understanding of cause and effect that transcends their own lives. Psychologists say this is a normal phase of their development- that adolescents are trapped in a "me" world that is healthy and normal until they move onto the next phase of their development. But is that entirely true? It may help us understand them but should we let them languish there? What can we do to broaden their perspectives? And in so doing broaden our own as adults.

I am because we are, and we are because I am.

Ahhh the digital age :)